As a website owner, ensuring the security of your site is paramount. Cybersecurity threats are prevalent, and protecting your website is not just about safeguarding your data but also about maintaining your reputation and the trust of your visitors. In this article, I’ll walk you through the essential steps to secure your website effectively.
My first step in securing the access part of my website is to register my user account with my Password Manager software. I wrote a helpful guide on them here.
An extra tip is to always use MFA short for Multi-Factor Authentication. This gives you an extra security layer than just a password. Every development team that works for me will need to set up MFA before they get access to anything sensitive. Its just too risky to not have that extra security layer.
A Comprehensive Guide to Securing Your Website: Essential Steps for Website Owners
1. Install an SSL Certificate:
One of the first steps to secure your website is to install an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. An SSL certificate encrypts data transmitted between your website and its visitors, making it difficult for malicious actors to intercept sensitive information, such as login credentials and payment details. Ensure that your website uses the “https” protocol to provide a secure connection.
For reference for installing SSL certificates visit the SSL Store here.
2. Keep Software and Plugins Up to Date:
Regularly update your website’s content management system (CMS), plugins, themes, and any other software used. These updates often include security patches to address vulnerabilities. Neglecting updates can leave your website exposed to known threats.
If you run a WordPress website I recommend NOT running auto updates for any plugins that you have installed. Auto update may cause you headaches when conflicting versions collide. I prefer to manually roll new versions as they appear and make sense to update.
How to design your website read here.
3. Use Strong, Unique Passwords:
Enforce the use of strong, unique passwords for your website’s admin accounts, FTP access, and databases. A password manager can help you generate and store these passwords securely. Consider implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) for additional security.
I strongly suggest using a password manager for your online and mobile browsing. Staying safe online is becoming more crucial in everyday interactions with websites and apps.
Here are my recommendations:
4. Regular Backups:
Frequently back up your website’s data and files. In the event of a security breach or technical issue, backups can be a lifesaver, allowing you to restore your site to a clean state. Automate the backup process for convenience.
5. Implement Security Plugins and Firewalls:
Consider using security plugins and web application firewalls (WAFs) to protect your website. These tools can help detect and prevent suspicious activities, such as brute-force attacks and malware injections. Popular security plugins include Wordfence and Sucuri Security.
On my work computer and all team members we run the Sentinel Enterprise security monitoring program. This adds real-time monitoring and protection to all of our fleet of computers.
6. Monitor Website Activity:
Set up monitoring systems to keep an eye on your website’s activity. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) tools can help you detect and respond to potential security threats in real-time.
7. Secure File Uploads:
If your website allows file uploads, ensure that you have strict controls in place to prevent malicious file uploads. Only permit authorized file types, scan uploaded files for malware, and store them in a secure directory.
8. Use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs):
Consider using a CDN to distribute your website’s content. CDNs can help protect against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and improve website load times.
The best-in-class CDN is CloudFlare. The nice thing about their product is that you can get started with a free plan. As you need to scale up you can start with the smaller plans and build towards bigger plans. CloudFlare keeps your website online and functional regardless if under attack or not. Thanks CloudFlare big fan of your product.
9. Educate Your Team:
If you have a team managing your website, ensure they are educated on cybersecurity best practices. Security awareness training can help prevent internal security threats.
I manage multiple engineering teams, product teams, and developer chapters and we practice security principles across the organisation. In these cases, just one unauthorised access could ruin multiple businesses. We hold regular meetups and often get in consultants who specialise in particular security aspects to help educate and inform the team.
10. Regular Security Audits and Penetration Testing:
Perform regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your website’s infrastructure and code. This proactive approach can help you address potential issues before they are exploited by malicious actors.
Here are my go to resources
- Websites & Mobile apps – ES2 provide a quality service at an affordable rate and they have some great products.
- APIs and Backend Hooks – Resolve IT for extra level peace fo mind knowing your APIs are secure.
- Blockchain wallets and APIs – Halborn Security and Resonance Security. These guys are up to date on every new risk and threat in the blockchain crypto space.
My Takeaway:
The worst feeling I’ve had online was being hacked and being absolutely powerless to do anything. Take every step you can to prevent this and secure your websites apps and online accounts.
Securing your website is an ongoing process, and it’s crucial for protecting your digital presence and the trust of your visitors. By following these essential steps and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and keep your website safe and sound.